Taiwan Exosome Company (TEC) Partners with ATRI, Obtains Authorization for "SPF Pig Platelet-Derived Exosomes," and Enters the Multi-Billion Dollar Global Regenerative Medicine Market
Taiwan Exosome Company (TEC) Partners with ATRI, Obtains Authorization for "SPF Pig Platelet-Derived Exosomes," and Enters the Multi-Billion Dollar Global Regenerative Medicine Market
(Reporter: Chang Yun-hsuan)
Taiwan Exosome Company (TEC) announced today that it has formally signed an agreement with the Agricultural Technology Research Institute (ATRI) regarding the licensing of key technologies and strategic cooperation. Through this partnership, the three major challenges facing xenogenic exosomes—"biosafety," "stability of mass production," and "feasibility of practical application"—have been overcome. At the same time as obtaining authorization for "SPF Pig Platelet-Derived Exosome Separation Technology," a joint development project for "SPF Pig NK Cells and their Exosomes" was also launched. This milestone not only establishes a global lead in an exosome R&D and pharmaceutical platform that integrates three sources—human, plant, and SPF pig—but also opens up multi-billion dollar potential business opportunities in the regenerative medicine, immunotherapy, and high-end aesthetic medicine markets in Taiwan, Japan, and globally.
High Biosafety Standards! Breakthrough Progress in SPF Pig Xenogenic Exosomes Opening the Way to Clinical Application
The core of this partnership lies in the international-standard, national-level "Specific Pathogen Free (SPF)" pig rearing system that ATRI has built over many years. The pigs are raised in highly isolated and monitored environments with complete health records and traceability. This directly aligns with the regulatory requirements of the US FDA, Japan's PMDA, and Taiwan's TFDA regarding xenogenic cell and exosome raw material sources, positioning the company to facilitate smooth product certification for manufacturers. Compared to traditional cell sources, SPF pigs offer two major advantages:
- High Standards of Biosafety: Reduces the risk of zoonotic diseases and solves the most critical safety concerns that have long persisted in the field of xenogenic applications.
- High Physiological Similarity: Pigs are very similar to humans in terms of tissue structure, immune response, and cell signaling, meaning their exosomes hold extremely high potential for the social implementation of research results.
Photo / Taiwan Exosome Company Chairman Hong Chi-chang (fourth from left in the front row) and Acting President of the Agricultural Technology Research Institute Li Hong-hsi (third from right in the front row) led both teams in a commemorative photo, symbolizing the deepening cooperation and promotion of industry-academic exchange between the two organizations in the fields of exosomes and regenerative medicine. (Provided by Taiwan Exosome Company)
Platelet-Derived Exosomes: A New Driving Force for Regenerative Medicine R&D Capable of Mass Production Without Cell Culture
By combining the high-purity separation technology independently developed by ATRI with an AI platelet quality inspection system, a manufacturing process for "SPF Pig Platelet-Derived Exosomes" has been established that allows for stable mass production without the need for cell culture. This significant technical advancement greatly reduces manufacturing costs and fluctuation risks while maintaining a high-concentration, highly active component composition, giving it high potential for industrialization.
According to preliminary research data from ATRI, SPF pig platelet-derived exosomes showed improvement in multiple regeneration indicators:
- Research indicators regarding skin tissue repair Significant difference compared to the control group (72%)
- Research indicators regarding hair Significant difference compared to the control group (68%)
- Research indicators regarding inflammation Significant difference compared to the control group (approx. 45%)
(The above are preliminary research indicators and do not guarantee efficacy or therapeutic effects in the human body)
Based on these results, a concrete and verifiable scientific foundation is provided for introduction into the high-end aesthetic medicine, post-operative care, skincare, and scalp care markets.
Photo / Taiwan Exosome Company Chairman Hong Chi-chang (left) and Acting President of the Agricultural Technology Research Institute Li Hong-hsi (right) completed the signing at the partnership ceremony, officially commencing cooperation between the two parties in exosome-related technologies and their applications. (Provided by Taiwan Exosome Company)
NK Cells and Exosomes: Building an All-in-One Ecosystem for the Immune-Related Industry Through Cross-Domain Cooperation Between Agriculture and Medicine
In addition to platelet-derived exosomes, both parties are focusing on "NK cells (Natural Killer cells) and their exosomes" as the core of the next phase of research and development. Compared to current high-cost and complex CAR-T cell therapies, SPF pig-derived NK exosomes offer three major business advantages:
- Controllable Costs and Scalable Production: Significantly lowers the barriers to immune-related application research and market introduction.
- Logistics and Storage Advantages: Exosomes are more stable than live cells, making cold chain transport and global supply easier.
- Broad Application Potential: Possesses evidence-based medical application research in immunomodulation and oncology.
Taiwan Exosome Company aims to combine ATRI's internationally certified animal testing capabilities (hardware and software) with its own established clinical-grade NK cell process technology to build the core technology from "SPF source to exosome process to clinical application" in stages within one year.
After the signing, both parties took a commemorative photo. From left: Taiwan Exosome Company COO & CTO Dr. Lin Chieh-liang, Chairman Hong Chi-chang, Acting President of the Agricultural Technology Research Institute Ms. Li Hong-hsi, and Deputy Director of the Institute of Agricultural Materials and Value-Addition Dr. Yang Chi-yu. (Provided by Taiwan Exosome Company)
From Clinical Application to Global Expansion: A 3-Stage Roadmap
In response to the global aging population and the rapidly expanding demand for regenerative medicine, Taiwan Exosome Company is launching the following three-stage global regenerative medicine market expansion strategy.
Phase 1 | Deepening in Taiwan Launch SPF pig platelet-derived exosome products into the aesthetic medicine, regenerative repair, and high-end maintenance markets to accumulate revenue and brand reputation.
Phase 2 | Expansion to Japan Japan is the world's most aged market, and its regenerative medicine regulations are well-established. The company plans to establish a Japanese subsidiary in 2025, apply for clinical trials in 2026, and aim for commercialization between 2029 and 2030.
Phase 3 | Global Expansion Using Japan as the first foothold, continue expansion into the European and American markets, establish a global operating structure by 2030, and plan for listing on the US NASDAQ.
With the entry into the Japanese market and the rollout of the immunotherapy product line, the 5-year revenue is projected to challenge 350 million Taiwan Dollars (NT$), with an internal rate of return (IRR) expected to exceed 30%.
Taiwan Exosome Company Chairman Hong Chi-chang stated: "This partnership is not merely a single technological breakthrough; it enables Taiwan's biotechnology industry to truly master core technologies from the supply source of raw materials and manufacturing processes to clinical application." He expects that through the innovative "Taiwan Exosome Triple Source Technology Platform," Taiwan will shine in the global fields of regenerative medicine and immune-related applications, contributing to societal needs by providing high-quality domestic medical products.